Outside the Lines is an annual compilation EP bringing together a diverse group of emerging artists, composers and musicians from various parts of Nonclassical’s activity.

Released digitally, the series highlights early and mid career artists from our Artist in Residence (AiR) Scheme, Battle of the Bands, and live events, showcasing a variety of new music practices from across the UK to a wider audience.


Our latest Outside the Lines Release

Track list (click on the track name to find out more)

1. Rebeca Omordia ft. Gabriel Prokofiev – Ufie, Igbo Dance (sound-collage rework)

Pianist Rebeca Omordia performs an exploration of Nigerian drumming techniques, interspersed with field recordings from Igbo land recorded by Silas Eziehi and performed by Gabriel Prokofiev in 'Ufie, Igbo Dance (sound-collage rework)': a celebration of rhythms and sounds from the South Eastern part of Nigeria. Originally composed by Christian Onyeji, Omordia and Prokofiev's interpretation reveals the distinctive sound world from the Igbo land through melding acoustic and electronic elements together.

2. Tunde Jegede and Ibukun Sunday – Reflections & Refractions

'Reflections & Refractions' is a piece about past, present and future. It draws on the sound-worlds of African Classical music through the Kora, performed by Tunde Jegede, and augments and abstracts this intimate soundscape through Ibukun Sunday's electronics. The resulting music threads together the real and the surreal, antiquity and modernity, and the two performers' unique African cultural experiences.

3. EMÆNUEL – Severed Dreads

EMÆNUEL's 'Severed Dreads' takes inspiration from folkloric religious traditions and transposes them onto a territory of undulating drum patterns and simple atonal harmonies. The 'Drum and the Hum' are the integral elements within the composition, laying the tones of saxophones, homemade flutes, talking drums and bells together in an intricate tapestry that hand off elements and frequencies to one another in a carefully ordered pattern of rhythm.

4. Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno – Piny Ngero

Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno's 'Piny Ngero' takes its influence from the phrase Ng'ato nyaka ng'e nonde, loosely translating to 'one must understand their lineage flow'. The Luo tribe's tradition of passing information from one generation to the next is reflected musically through the blurring of traditional music with other genres, acknowledging both the past and the present.

5. Kamilla Arku and Dameun Strange – 'Sefa'

With the piano music of Nkeiru Okoye as a starting point, 'Sefa' by Kamilla Arku and Dameun Strange weaves notions of African diaspora and sisterhood into an electroacoustic soundscape. The piece is inspired by the experiences of an imaginary woman who hears the sound of a piano through raindrops. As the sun begins to set, the sound is bathed in golden-hour glow and conjures a cherished memory of dancing barefoot in the rain with her sisters.


showcasing the diverse music scene to a wider audience

Nonclassical is all about driving the evolution of new music and pushing the boundaries at what people think is classical music. Outside the Lines showcases artists from all corners of new music, representing the diversity of styles that the scene has to offer.

For many of the artists featured on Outside the Lines, it is the first time they have released their music with a label. Our commitment to recording emerging talent gives these artists a new platform that exposes their work to a wider and bigger audience.

Previous participants have included:

  • Electronic musician Tom Richards (Outside the Lines – Vol. 1), who has performed around the world, including the Royal Albert Hall, Barbican’s Sound Unbound, the National Theatre Riverstage Festival and Festival Música Estranha, Brazil.

  • Cellist and singer-songwriter Ayanna Witter-Johnson (Outside the Lines – Vol. 2), who has worked with the London Symphony Orchestra with Hugh Masekela and has been nominated for a MOBO award.

  • Violinist Midori Komachi (Outside the Lines – Vol. 2), who is the 2019/20 Musician in Residence with the British Council and PRS Foundation and has curated music for the Courtauld Exhibition in Japan.

  • Composer Alex Nikiporenko (Outside the Lines – Vol. 1), who was nominated for a 2016 Ivors Composer Award.

Tom Richards at Riverstage festival

“Being with Nonclassical the last few years has been of great significance to my career. I think of them primarily as an agent and advocate – I've performed live shows in great venues – such as the Barbican, Fabric, Sziget Festival and The National Theatre – alongside brilliant artists. It is these live shows that have made the biggest difference to my profile and career.“

Tom Richards
Featured artist on Outside the Lines – Vol. 1


PREVIOUS releases


Featured Artists

Volume 5

Artists:

  • Atefeh Einali
  • Elischa Kaminer
  • Emily Abdy
  • Simon Knighton
  • red panel

Volume 4

Artists:

  • Samuel Sharp
  • Sasha Scott
  • Spindle Ensemble
  • Yorgo Stenos
  • Lottie Sadd
  • Sophie Fetokaki

Volume 3

Artists:

  • Dan Samsa
  • Yfat Soul Zisso
  • Blasio Kavuma
  • Lola de la Mata
  • Reylon Yount / Alex Ho

Volume 2

Curator: Nick Luscombe

Artists:

  • Midori Komachi
  • Zoë Martlew / Cecilia Bignall
  • Charlotte Harding / Beth Higham-Edwards / Gabriella Swallow
  • Ayanna Witter-Johnson
  • Freya Waley-Cohen / Sophie Baird-Daniel

Volume 1

Curator: Nick Luscombe

Artists:

  • Tre Voci / Alex Nikiporenko
  • Tom Richards
  • Tempest Flute Trio
  • NASduo
  • Dani Howard
  • Mathis Nitschke / Anja Lechner


Nonclassical is a PRS Foundation Talent Development Partner supported by PPL and in association with Youth Music UK.

PRSF-Talent-Development-Partner-(w-Youth-Music-and-PPL)_APPROVED.png